We decided to drive over to Blowing Rock this week. It was our first time there since Helene. We go through Old Fort and take the back roads. The damage from Helene is still stunning. The river bed is FULL of rocks. So many rocks. So many trees. There wasn’t a single time I didn’t see a downed tree. There were places with just one down and then places with 20-30 flat on the ground, oddly perched atop boulders, leaning on the mudslides that uprooted them, others held up only by other trees, some living and some uprooted. It’s devastating and overwhelming all at the same time. There is simply so much work to do. We were encouraged to see areas of the equipment that was in our creek this week. You can see the excavator tracks along the creek beds with neatly stacked freshly cut trees. We saw many temporary bridges and crossed several. There were many single homes and properties with brand new bridges. It begs us to wonder how long they were cut off from assistance. If it was their driveway what did it cost them to reconnect with the main road? Helene spared nothing. I worry for the trauma of those residents. How do you ever recover the feelings of safety and security in your own home? What about the kids? Will their minds ever be stilled?

We finally hit the Blue Ridge Parkway and happier sights. The vastness of our land is striking. The clouds hung low and cast stunning shadows on the mountains. Today we could really see the shades of blues showed beautifully and reminded us why they are called the Blue Ridge Mountains. I looked upon the landscape knowing that God gave us that sight and I have to trust that He will control the recovery as well.

We returned home to find that our dry creek bed had been completed. The day before the storm we knew our home was in danger of flooding. That Wednesday so much rain fell that we had two inches of standing water on our permeable patio. With the storm barreling in Johnny knew he had to shore up the yard. He spent all day Thursday digging a ditch and secured the house side with sand bags from Lowe’s that JUST reopened along with a few sandbox sandbags from our local ACE Hardware. The last of their sandbags had just walked out the door as Johnny walked in. Did you know 25 sandbags cost the same as 5 sandbox sandbags? We learned that little known fact. That ditch and those sandbags saved our home from destruction. Without it we would have been completely flooded out. Around 9:30 AM the ditch overflowed and cut through the sandbags. Thankfully the storm moved on and we were spared. Until now we have had sandbags as yard decor. Today the creek bed reminds us of the destruction and also the beauty that can rise up. Our incredible landscaper beautifully avoided the silly waving frog atop Mom’s ashes and delicately holding Monkey’s collar. I sat outside and listened the the creek that barreled through WNC destroying anything and everything near it. Flat creek welcomed me home as if she was saying “I got you”, “you will survive and so will those you worry about”. She brought music tonight and will lull us to sleep. Singing birds will wake us up. We will face another day intent on sharing the needs of our neighbors and working for recovery for our hearts, souls and land.

© Gatewood Campbell, April 2025